Chapter Twenty-sixth.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and
when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
—­PROVERBS, xxii: 6.

As naturally as the helianthus to the sun, did the
faces of Elsie’s little ones turn to her when
in her loved presence. At the table, at their
sports, their lessons, everywhere and however employed,
it was always the same, the young eyes turning ever
and anon to catch the tender, sympathetic glance of
mamma’s.

But at dinner to-day, Vi’s great blue orbs met
hers but once and instantly dropped upon her plate
again, while a vivid blush suffused the fair face
and neck.

And when the meal was ended and all gathered in the
drawing-room, Vi still seemed to be unlike her usual
gay, sunny self, the merriest prattler of all the
little crowd of children, the one whose sweet silvery
laugh rang out the oftenest. She stood alone at
a side table turning over some engravings, but evidently
with very little interest. The mother, engaged
in conversation with the other ladies, watched her
furtively, a little troubled and anxious, yet deeming
it best to wait for a voluntary confidence on the
part of her child.

Longing, yet dreading to make it, Vi was again puzzling
her young brain with the question whether Meta was
right in saying it would be selfish to do so.
Ah, if she could only ask mamma which was the right
way to do! This was the first perplexity she
had not been able to carry to her for disentanglement.

Remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, “Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth,”
Elsie had been careful to store her children’s
minds with the blessed teachings and precious promises
of God’s holy Book. She had also taught
them to go to God their heavenly Father, with every
care, sorrow, doubt and difficulty.

“I’ll ask Jesus,” thought Vi; “he’ll
help me to know, because the Bible says, ’If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth
to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him.’”

She slipped into an adjoining room, where she was
quite alone, and kneeling down, whispered softly,
with low sobs and many tears, “Dear Father in
heaven, I’ve been a very, very naughty girl;
I disobeyed my dear mamma; please forgive me for Jesus’
sake and make me good. Please Lord Jesus, help
me to know if I ought to tell mamma.”